Brace for fence or gate posts



(No Model.)

G. W. CLARK.

BRAGE FOR FENCE OR GATE POSTS.

No. 407,330. Patented July 23, 1889.

UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE.

GEORGE \V. CLARK, OF JOI-INSTOWVN, OHIO.

BRACE FOR FENCE OR GATE POSTS SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 407,330, dated July 23, 1889. Application filed April 2, I889. Serial No. 805,740. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE W. CLARK, a citizen of the United States, residing at J ohnstown, in the county of Licking and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Brace for Fence or Gate Posts, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to braces for fence or gate posts; and it has for its object to provide a device of this class by means of which the post maybe readily restored to a vertical or upright position when, on account of the settling of the ground or for any other reason, it shall have tilted out of plumb.

The invention consists in the improved construction and arrangement of the parts constituting the said base, which will be hereinafter fully described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective View of a gate-post equipped with my improved bracing device. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken centrally through one of the braces or anchors. Fig. 3 is a perspective view, on a larger scale, of one of the braceanchors and the adjusting-clamp. Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing a modification. Fig. 5 is a view showing the invention applied to a fence.

The same letters refer to the same parts in all the figures.

A designates a gate-post,which is mounted upon a transverse sill B, having a central rearwardly-extending arm 0. The three arms B- B and C of the sill are connected with the post by means of inclined braces D, which serve to connect the post rigidly to the said sill. To one side of each of the arms of the sill is pivoted a stirrup E, upon which a brake or clamping block F, having on its inner side a series of teeth or ratchets G, is pivotally mounted.

H H designate the anchors,which are made, preferably, of cast-iron, and which consist of posts or bars, the lower ends of which are provided with wings or flanges I and the faces of which are provided with teeth or ratchets J, e11- gaging those of the brakes or clamping-blocks F when the anchors are adjusted in the stirrups E. The teeth or ratchets of the anchor-bars are beveled downwardly, so as to admit of an upward movement of said anchor-bars with relation to the brakes or clamping-blocks,while movement in the opposite direction is effectually prevented. The inner. sides of the anchor bars or braces are provided with lat; erally-extending flanges K, forming flat faces thatwill bear against the sills when the said anchor-bars are adjusted for operation in the stirrups E.

The operation of this invention will be readily understood from the foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawings hereto annexed. When the fence or gate post is set, it is mounted vertically upon the sills, the arms of which are firmly secured to the ground by means of the anchors herein described, which are buried in the ground, and the teeth of which engage those of the brace or clamping blocks mounted upon the stirrups which are connected to the said sills. The post is thus supported above the ground and not liable to decay. When, owing to any cause, the fence or gate begins to sag in either direction, the post may be simply tilted in the opposite direction, thereby lowering one of the brakes or clamping-blocks,which is thus caused to e11- gage the next tooth of the anchor-bar, whereby it is retained firmly in any position to which. it may be adjusted. This operation may be repeated whenever the fence or gate sags, and the post may thus at all times readily be restored to a true vertical position.

It is not essential to the operation of my invention that a sill having three arms, each provided with a separate anchor, should be used. Under some circumstances a single anchor attached to one side of the longitudinally-arranged sill would answer the purpose. At other times a sill comprising two diverging arms, each equipped with an anchor, might be found useful, and I would therefore I have it distinctly understood that the number of anchors used and their relative arrangement may be varied to suit the exigencies of the case. I would also have it understood that I do not desire to limit myself to the precise construction herein described, but reserve the right to any modifications which may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of my invention.

In Fig. i of the drawings I have shown a modification of my invention, which consists simply in attaching the pivoted stirrups carrying the toothed blocks directly to the side of the post, thus dispensing entirely with the sills. The operation of this modification is obvious.

Having thus described my invention, 1 claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. The combination, with a fence or gate post, of a pivoted stirrup, a block mounted pivotally in said stirrup and having teeth or ratcliets on its inner face, and an anchor-bar confined in said stirrup and having teeth or ratchets engaging those of the pivoted block, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, with a fence or gate post, of a pivoted stirrup, a toothed block mounted pivotally on said stirrup, and a vertical anchor-bar having wings or flanges at its lower end and provided with downwardlybeveled teeth or ratchets engaging those of the pivot-block, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination of a vertical post mounted upon a suitable sill, stirrups pivoted to the arms of said sill, toothed blocks mounted pivotally upon said stirrups,and the vertical anchor-bars having wings or flanges at their lower ends and provided with downwardlybeveled teeth engaging those of the pivoted blocks, substantially as herein described, and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto aflixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE \V. CLARK.

Witnesses:

G110. W. LEWIs, WM. 0. MERTZ. 

